Turns out that the current air quality in Delhi is worse by 40 times the World Health Organization’s safety levels. United in its statement said that:

“United has temporarily suspended our Newark-Delhi flights due to poor air quality concerns in Delhi and currently has waiver policies in place for customers who are travelling to, from or through Delhi,”

“We are monitoring advisories as the region remains under a public health emergency, and are coordinating with respective government agencies.”

New Delhi’s air quality is presently ranked among the world’s worst, even leaving behind Beijing in China. Though every year around this time the problem worsens when farmers in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana burn their fields after the crop harvest sending severe smoke in the city.

The government has been taking various initiatives like prohibiting burning crackers and reducing air pollution from cars but nothing seems to be working.